41. Reframing Frameworks: Troubleshooting For Success

Here is a neat idea. Do you know how goals are supposed to be SMART for us to be successful in achieving them? This means that when we are setting goals our goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This idea is a part of management by objectives. What if we combined this framework with The Atomic Habit’s 4 Laws of Habit Creation: make it obvious, make it easy, make it attractive, and make it satisfying? After all, creating a habit is a goal. We could create a completely new framework with a new acronym.

STREAMOS

• Specific
• Time-bound
• Relevant
• Easy
• Attractive
• Measurable
• Obvious
• Satisfying

I left out “Achievable” from the SMART goals framework because “Easy” in the habit creation laws covers it well. I then remembered the OODA loop which stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Colonel John Boyd developed it. He intended to make the Air Force more agile and adaptable. I think we need an element in our new framework that helps us be more flexible. We may make mistakes and it will be helpful to reflect on them. “Reflect” is a good term. Let’s add it to the framework. Rearranging the acronym we get the following.

SMARTER OS (read as "smarter-o-s")

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attractive
• Relevant
• Time-bound
• Easy
• Reflection
• Obvious
• Satisfying

This is fun. Let’s test it with AI. I asked ChatGPT to find an example to criticize the framework. I know that no system or framework can account for external factors like an emergency that throws off your goal-achieving habit creation. I asked ChatGPT to ignore such errors but look for errors that show that it does not cover every aspect. 

ChatGPT

(R=Critique Behavioral Framework, V=3)

Indeed, no framework is entirely foolproof, and there are inherent limitations in any structured approach to habit formation. Here’s a scenario that illustrates a potential criticism of the SMARTEROS framework, showing how it might fail to capture all necessary elements for successful habit implementation:

Scenario: Jordan, an aspiring writer, sets a goal to write a novel within a year. He decides to write for one hour each morning, which is specific, measurable (tracking daily writing time), attractive (fulfills his dream of writing a novel), relevant (aligns with his career goals), time-bound (one-year deadline), easy (scheduled at a consistent, distraction-free time), involves reflection (monthly progress reviews), obvious (daily calendar reminders), and satisfying (pleasure from creative expression).

Failure Point: Despite meeting all SMARTEROS criteria, the habit fails because Jordan does not account for the qualitative aspects of writing, such as creativity and inspiration, which cannot be forced into a rigid, time-bound structure. His writing feels uninspired and forced, leading to dissatisfaction and eventually causing him to abandon the project.

Analysis: This example exposes a limitation in the SMARTEROS framework, specifically its focus on quantitative rather than qualitative measures. While the framework effectively addresses the structural and motivational aspects of habit formation, it may not fully accommodate creative processes that require flexibility and cannot be neatly scheduled or quantified. The framework assumes that consistency and structure alone are sufficient for success, overlooking the need for intrinsic motivation and creative freedom that are essential in artistic endeavors.

Solution: To enhance the framework for creative tasks, adding an element that emphasizes the importance of "Intrinsic Motivation" or "Creative Flexibility" might be necessary. This addition would encourage adaptation of habits not only based on external goals but also internal states, allowing for more natural and inspired engagement with creative tasks. This improvement would address the limitation of treating all tasks as equally amenable to structured approaches, acknowledging that some endeavors thrive under less rigid conditions.

Should we try to incorporate ChatGPT’s suggested element? 

For most of my life, I tried all sorts of frameworks and advice but failed consistently. It took a long time for me to learn that prescriptions don’t usually work. There is no recipe for success. Traditionally, these frameworks provide a checklist that, if followed, is assumed to lead to success but rarely does that happen. I don’t know if they are completely wrong though. There may be some knowledge we can gain from these frameworks. What if we transformed these frameworks into diagnostic tools? What if instead of recipes we had troubleshooting guides? You might be thinking that we included “Reflection” in our framework and therefore this is covered. This approach is more dramatic. Reflecting on why we failed is the central theme rather than it being one of the criteria to be met.

To transform the SMARTEROS framework into a diagnostic tool we may use the antonyms of each element. This could shift our focus from attempting to meet each criterion to understanding how the absence or opposite of each criterion might affect our success. Here’s how this could be structured with ChatGPT's help:

Specific vs. Vague:
If a goal or habit fails, check if the objectives were too vague. A lack of specificity can lead to confusion and inconsistent efforts.

Measurable vs. Immeasurable:
Evaluate whether the failure could be due to the goal being immeasurable. Without clear metrics, it’s difficult to track progress or know when the goal has been achieved.

Attractive vs. Unappealing:
Consider if the goal lacked appeal or motivation. If the outcome or process isn't desirable, it's hard to maintain effort over time.

Relevant vs. Irrelevant:
Analyze whether the goal actually mattered to the individual’s or organization’s core values and long-term objectives. Irrelevance can lead to disengagement.

Time-bound vs. Open-ended:
Determine if a lack of a defined timeline led to procrastination or lack of urgency, contributing to the goal’s failure.

Easy vs. Difficult:
Reflect on whether the goal was too challenging or the steps too complex, which can be a significant barrier to completion.

Reflection vs. Non-reflective:
Consider whether failure to engage in regular reflection prevented necessary adjustments and insights that could have steered the project back on course.

Obvious vs. Obscure:
If the behaviors or cues weren’t clear or noticeable, it might have prevented the formation of a habit.

Satisfying vs. Dissatisfying:
Assess if the lack of immediate or long-term satisfaction from the activities discouraged continuation or completion of the goal.

What do you think? I wonder how useful this method is. I know it is full of errors and am delighted to find them.